Bertie?"
Victoria cried.
They're on their own, the same as
we are."
Victoria did not attempt to argue
further, for which Lucas was profoundly
grateful. Apparently the lady was capable
of displaying some common sense when it
was called for.
Chaining her to his side with his grip
on her wrist, Lucas hauled her through
the melee toward the uncertain safety of
the narrow alleys and streets that bordered
the park.
He had known from the start the lady
was going to be nothing but trouble.
The danger, which had coalesced out of
thin air, left Victoria stunned. In that
moment the only promise of safety in the
entire world lay in the iron grip on her
wrist. She followed Lucas blindly, relying
instinctively on his strength and the savage
manner in which he wielded his stick to
forge a way for them through the crowd.
Victoria felt a hand claw at her coat and
realized someone was trying to pick her
pocket. Another hand tried to grab the
inlaid walking stick she carried. Without
thinking, she lashed out with the stout
length of wood, slashing at the grasping
hands.
There was a scream from one of her
assailants which brought Lucas's head
around briefly. With one quick glance he
saw that the would-be thieves had already
released their intended victim.
Good girl." He immediately turned his
attention back to forging ahead through
the mob.
He did not try to work his way back
against the driving force of the crowd.
Instead, Victoria realized, he chose to
ride the human flow, as if guiding a
boat through a strong current. He kept
maneuvering steadily toward the edge
of the wild, churning river, his pace
controlled and strong in spite of his limp.
He did not break out into a mad dash
and thereby jeopardize his balance and
hers. It was obvious he had long since
learned to compensate for the weakness
in his left leg.
Lucas's cool self-mastery amid the chaos
made it clear to Victoria that he was one
of those rare men who did not become
rattled under pressure. She felt safe with
him, even though the mob roiled around
her like a violent sea.
As they reached the fringes of the mass of
shouting, staggering, shoving humanity, the
crowd thinned. Lucas made a calculated
bid to escape it altogether; he had
apparently been watching for his chance.
In what seemed like an instant, he yanked
Victoria into a tunnel of darkness between
two buildings.
Victoria stumbled after him into the
relative safety of the pitch black alley.
Her boots skidded on slime and she caught
her breath against the terrible stench that
welled up from the confines of the narrow
stone walls.
She thought the danger was over until
she heard the crude drunken shouts from
the alley entrance.
Ere now, mate. Bring that light in" ere.
I saw" em go inter this little" hole, I tell
ye. Two of" um. Rich coves, by the look
of em."
Damn." Lucas swore with deadly soft
ness." Get behind me and stay down,
Victoria."
Not waiting for her to obey, Lucas flung
Victoria behind him with such force that
she fetched up against the brick wall of the
alley. She caught her balance and glanced
anxiously toward the entrance just as a
lantern appeared. In its pale light she saw
the faces of two young ruffians armed
with knives. They spotted their quarry and
moved forward expectantly.
What'er ye waitin" for, Long Tom?" the
second man asked his pal in an urgent
tone. Urry up and spice the swells. There
be plenty o" work out" ere for the likes o'
us tonight."
stone vale stood his ground, shielding
Victoria. As she watched she saw him
remove a small, shiny object from his
greatcoat pocket.
Bloody" ell." E's got a pop," the first
man cursed as the lamplight fell on the
pistol lodged in stone vale's hand.
An excellent observation, gentlemen."
stone vale sounded faintly bored." Which
of you would like to test the accuracy of
my aim?"
The first young man into the alley
slithered to a halt and his
Victoria cried.
They're on their own, the same as
we are."
Victoria did not attempt to argue
further, for which Lucas was profoundly
grateful. Apparently the lady was capable
of displaying some common sense when it
was called for.
Chaining her to his side with his grip
on her wrist, Lucas hauled her through
the melee toward the uncertain safety of
the narrow alleys and streets that bordered
the park.
He had known from the start the lady
was going to be nothing but trouble.
The danger, which had coalesced out of
thin air, left Victoria stunned. In that
moment the only promise of safety in the
entire world lay in the iron grip on her
wrist. She followed Lucas blindly, relying
instinctively on his strength and the savage
manner in which he wielded his stick to
forge a way for them through the crowd.
Victoria felt a hand claw at her coat and
realized someone was trying to pick her
pocket. Another hand tried to grab the
inlaid walking stick she carried. Without
thinking, she lashed out with the stout
length of wood, slashing at the grasping
hands.
There was a scream from one of her
assailants which brought Lucas's head
around briefly. With one quick glance he
saw that the would-be thieves had already
released their intended victim.
Good girl." He immediately turned his
attention back to forging ahead through
the mob.
He did not try to work his way back
against the driving force of the crowd.
Instead, Victoria realized, he chose to
ride the human flow, as if guiding a
boat through a strong current. He kept
maneuvering steadily toward the edge
of the wild, churning river, his pace
controlled and strong in spite of his limp.
He did not break out into a mad dash
and thereby jeopardize his balance and
hers. It was obvious he had long since
learned to compensate for the weakness
in his left leg.
Lucas's cool self-mastery amid the chaos
made it clear to Victoria that he was one
of those rare men who did not become
rattled under pressure. She felt safe with
him, even though the mob roiled around
her like a violent sea.
As they reached the fringes of the mass of
shouting, staggering, shoving humanity, the
crowd thinned. Lucas made a calculated
bid to escape it altogether; he had
apparently been watching for his chance.
In what seemed like an instant, he yanked
Victoria into a tunnel of darkness between
two buildings.
Victoria stumbled after him into the
relative safety of the pitch black alley.
Her boots skidded on slime and she caught
her breath against the terrible stench that
welled up from the confines of the narrow
stone walls.
She thought the danger was over until
she heard the crude drunken shouts from
the alley entrance.
Ere now, mate. Bring that light in" ere.
I saw" em go inter this little" hole, I tell
ye. Two of" um. Rich coves, by the look
of em."
Damn." Lucas swore with deadly soft
ness." Get behind me and stay down,
Victoria."
Not waiting for her to obey, Lucas flung
Victoria behind him with such force that
she fetched up against the brick wall of the
alley. She caught her balance and glanced
anxiously toward the entrance just as a
lantern appeared. In its pale light she saw
the faces of two young ruffians armed
with knives. They spotted their quarry and
moved forward expectantly.
What'er ye waitin" for, Long Tom?" the
second man asked his pal in an urgent
tone. Urry up and spice the swells. There
be plenty o" work out" ere for the likes o'
us tonight."
stone vale stood his ground, shielding
Victoria. As she watched she saw him
remove a small, shiny object from his
greatcoat pocket.
Bloody" ell." E's got a pop," the first
man cursed as the lamplight fell on the
pistol lodged in stone vale's hand.
An excellent observation, gentlemen."
stone vale sounded faintly bored." Which
of you would like to test the accuracy of
my aim?"
The first young man into the alley
slithered to a halt and his
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